Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange seeks volunteer docents

Essex County – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that volunteers are being recruited for the 2014 Docent Class at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. Docents are volunteer educators who give informational talks, act as tour guides and are stationed throughout the Zoo to provide information to visitors about the Zoo and its animal collection. This is a highly selective volunteer position and training is required.

“Our Docents help every visitor have an enjoyable and memorable experience at our zoo. Whether walking through our zoo grounds or making presentations in schools or at community events, our Docents are volunteer ambassadors who share their love and knowledge about animals and their habitats, and encourage the public to have respect for the environment,” DiVincenzo said. “If you love animals, we encourage you to attend the training course and become a Turtle Back Zoo Docent,” he added.

New Docents must be at least 18 years old and complete a six-week training course instructed by experienced TBZ staff. Training will begin on Sunday, February 16th and continue through the end of March. There is a non-refundable fee of $25 which covers training materials and handouts.